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Lin Ting looked at the man who had just spoken, confused—
Who was he?
The man ignored the stares around him and raised his voice:
“The woman Chen Li is engaged to is the daughter of an agricultural professor. That professor was also once Chen Li’s teacher.”
Xu Zhaoying gritted her teeth.
“Chen Yongcai, you’re talking nonsense!”
“That’s not true at all!”
She had never even heard of such a thing!
Lin Ting was momentarily stunned—
So this was the man Li Haitang had married in her previous life.
If she remembered correctly, Chen Yongcai and Li Haitang got married not long before he drowned in an accident.
After becoming a widow, Li Haitang was often forced into blind dates by her family and would frequently come to their home to hide.
Now, Lin Ting boldly speculated:
Could Chen Yongcai’s death also have had something to do with Chen Li?
Chen Yongcai firmly declared:
“I’m not lying! Haitang wrote to tell me herself!”
As soon as he said that, Xu Zhaoying shouted:
“Why would she write to you?”
“Are you two secretly in contact?”
Someone in the crowd gasped:
“Oh my! So Li Haitang is a shameless flirt…”
Smack!
Before the person could finish, the brigade secretary slapped her across the face!
“Watch your mouth!”
Xu Zhaoying roared:
“Am I wrong?”
“If your daughter wasn’t such a flirt, why would she secretly write to another man?”
“We’re breaking off the engagement!”
“My son won’t marry into your family anymore!”
“Your daughter is the unfaithful one, so we don’t owe you any compensation!”
On the surface, Xu Zhaoying looked furious.
But inside, she was ecstatic.
She’d finally found a reason to cancel the engagement without paying a penalty!
Even the heavens were helping her!
But Chen Yongcai frowned deeply:
“It was Chen Li who broke the agreement first.”
“He already had a fiancée back home, and now he’s engaged to someone else in the city. Even if we report this to the police, he’s clearly in the wrong!”
He genuinely felt bad for Li Haitang.
Old Lady Miao chimed in support:
“Chen Li is two-timing us! Lying to both families. We’re going to report him to the Public Security Bureau!”
Xu Zhaoying was stunned—
Why was this going so differently from what she’d expected?!
“Wait! Let’s talk this through calmly,” she quickly said.
Changing her tone, she argued,
“If my son really is engaged to another woman in the city, why wouldn’t I, his own mother, know about it?”
“We need to verify this with Chen Li himself.”
Chen Yongcai replied calmly,
“Then call him and ask—let him tell you if he’s engaged or not.”
“Fine, I’ll call!”
Even though she hated spending money on a phone call, her son’s reputation was more important.
Since the Qingshan Brigade had no phone, they had to go to the neighboring Huaihua Brigade Office.
A large crowd followed Old Lady Xu as they marched to Huaihua.
The members of the Huaihua Brigade saw the commotion and thought something big had happened!
Meanwhile, a man nearby quietly observed Lin Ting.
She calmly followed the crowd as if she had never been engaged to Chen Li.
That man—Ling Xian—had only recently found out from a subordinate that Lin Ting was the granddaughter of Lin Mingde.
Every descendant of the Ling family was taught from birth to remember that name.
Because Lin Mingde was the man who once saved his grandfather’s life.
Lin Ting’s father was an agricultural professor, and her mother a university teacher. She’d grown up on test farms, so it was no surprise she knew how to make compost.
After all, even as a child, she had been smarter than most of her peers.
Only recently had Ling Xian realized that he had met Lin Ting when they were kids.
Back then, he had moved to Shanghai with his parents, and he and Lin Ting had never seen each other again—
Until they crossed paths at the gypsum mine that day.
It seemed she hadn’t recognized him at all.
Ling Xian smiled bitterly to himself.
Of course she wouldn’t—she was only five years old back then.
With that, he retracted his gaze and walked toward the houses at the foot of the mountain.
The Lin family had narrowly escaped being sent to labor camps—
all thanks to his grandfather’s influence.
The Ling family had always believed: no matter the time or place, they must help the Lin family whenever they could.
Before he realized it, Ling Xian had arrived at the mountain’s base.
He made sure there was no one around watching before approaching a row of old houses.
There, a pair of twin girls were sitting quietly at the door, daydreaming.
The twins reacted very differently to a stranger’s arrival.
One immediately called for her mother.
The other calmly looked up and asked,
“Who are you?”
Ling Xian didn’t answer.
Instead, he said,
“I’m here to see your grandfather. Is he home?”
“Who’s looking for me?”
Professor Lin emerged from behind the house, his forehead dripping with sweat and hands covered in mud.
His back was slightly hunched, and he looked weary and worn down.
But when he saw the visitor, he froze in shock.
“You’re… Ling Xian?”
The grandson of Commander Ling!
Commander Ling had only one grandson—there was no mistaking him!
Ling Xian greeted him respectfully:
“Yes. Uncle Lin, how have you been?”
Professor Lin instinctively looked around, then lowered his voice:
“I’m fine. But this isn’t a place you should be seen. You should leave before anyone notices.”
He was trying to protect them.
His life was already hard enough—no need to drag others into it.
Ling Xian was briefly moved.
Even now, Professor Lin still thought of others before himself.
How could someone like this have been unjustly punished?
“If you need any daily necessities, just let me know. I’ll bring them next time.”
Professor Lin was stunned.
“There will be a next time?”
“Ling Xian, it’s not that I don’t welcome you, but things are sensitive right now. It’s really best if you don’t come again.”
Ling Xian replied,
“I’m stationed nearby for an assignment. If anyone sees me, I’ll have a valid excuse.”
“But you—you’re caring for two small children. Life must be difficult, isn’t it?”
Professor Lin sighed softly.
“This is already the best outcome we could’ve hoped for.”
“We’ve done our best. The rest is up to fate.”
“Now, you’d better go.”
Ling Xian asked again,
“Are you sure you don’t need me to bring anything?”
“No, we’re fine.”
As Ling Xian left, Professor Lin turned to his granddaughters:
“Xiaojing, Xiaoxuan, remember—don’t tell anyone you saw that big brother, understand?”
“Got it, Grandpa,” the two girls replied sweetly.
—
Meanwhile, at the Huaihua Brigade Office—
After a lot of effort, Xu Zhaoying finally got through to Chen Li.
Before she could explain anything, she heard him ask:
“Mom, did you send the money yet?”
Xu Zhaoying’s expression froze. She couldn’t help but snap:
“Money, money, money—that’s all you care about!”
Truth be told, although Chen Li was her most “successful” son, he had also burned through the most money.
“Mom, if you don’t send the money soon, Haitang and I will be sleeping on the streets.”
Those standing farther away couldn’t hear the call clearly, so the people up front repeated it aloud.
“Chen Li and Li Haitang have no money and might end up homeless!”
“Hahahaha!”
Laughter erupted in waves.
Trying to salvage the situation, Xu Zhaoying quickly changed the subject:
“Son, tell me the truth—are you engaged to some girl in the city?”
Chen Li was confused.
“Mom… how did you find out?”